Tewkesbury Abbey is surely the most spectacular parish church in Britain!
The abbey as we see it now was built by the early Norman kings in the 12th century
The manor of Tewkesbury was inherited in the early 14th century by Hugh le Despenser, the notorious favourite of king Edward II, who was brutally executed when the king was overthrown and murdered in 1347. Later, it was inherited by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, known as "Warwick the Kingmaker" after he famously changed sides in the 15th century Wars of the Roses bewteen the rival houses of York and Lancaster.
The stained glass windows in the presbytry are 14th century, and according to tradition were given by Despenser's wife.
Warwick was killed at Barnet in April 1431, and less than a month later the Lancastrian cause was catastrophically defeated at the battle of Tewkesbury.
The last abbot of Tewkesbury surrendered to the crown and the abbey was dissolved in January 1540. The intention was to destroy the buildings entirely, but enough money was raised to save the abbey chapel and turn it into the parish church. It was extensively renovated in the 19th century.
There is not a great deal to be seen of Tewkesbury battlefield, but the battle is commemorated in the town with a display of the banners of the lords and knights who fought there.
